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| USAAF 5th AF 22nd BG 408th BS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Simon C. Willis, Jr. (survived) Force Landed May 6, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 3780. At the factory, painted with olive drab upper surfaces and gray lower surfaces. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-120-CO Liberator serial number 42-109977. In the United States, nicknamed Nicknamed "Shoo Shoo Baby" in a bubble font with double quotes with the nose art of a female nude brunette with a flower in her hair seated with her legs extended wearing a pair of orange gloves. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Wartime History During April 1944, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG) "Red Raiders", 408th Bombardment Squadron (408th BS). The left side of the nose added the "Red Raiders" motif next to the nickname and nose art. The propeller hubs were painted green. Ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. The tail had a large white stenciled 984 (last three digits of the serial number) at top a light green rectangle on each tail, below the yellow serial number stencil. On April 22, 1944 first bombing mission against New Guinea. In total this bomber flew at least 60 combat missions. With the distinctive nose art and markings and long service life, this B-24 became one of the best known bombers in the squadron and group. Mission History On May 6, 1945 took off from Clark Field piloted by 2nd Lt. Simon C. Willis, Jr. armed with bombs and propaganda leaflets on a bombing mission against Kiirun Harbor (Keelung) on Formosa (Taiwan). Over the target, the formation encountered bad weather and bombed by radar. Returning, this bomber lost two engines with a third smoking. While flying at low altitude within visual range of Clark Field the third engine failed and force landed wheels up roughly 15 miles from Clark Field on a dry rice paddy skidding to a stop and smoking but did not catch fire. Afterwards, the bomber was written off. Fates of the Crew Aboard, some of the crew sustained minor injuries including pilot Lt. Willis with a broken left hand and another a broken shoulder. The first to reach the crew was a Filipino doctor from Bamban arrived and gave medical treatment to the downed crew. Meanwhile, U.S. Army medics from a nearby anti-aircraft position also arrived. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-120-CO Liberator 42-109984 Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages cover artwork depicts this bomber in flight pages 295 (color photo), 309 (profile no. 26), 344 (photo), 407 (May 6, 1945, photo), 507 (408th BS, 42-109984), 530, 581-582 (Profile no. 26 description), 620 (index Shoo Shoo Baby), 624 (index Willis) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated January 29, 2025 |
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